Nutrition and Cancer: Nutritional Management of Treatment Side Effects For Children

Nutritional management of treatment side effects

Your child's cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, medications, and surgery) may cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. This can contribute to poor nutrition and poor growth. Other factors that may influence how well children eat or maintain their weight include:

The hospital environment

Depression

Changes in the cells of the mouth, which may alter the way food tastes

Inadequate absorption of calories due to vomiting and diarrhea

Food odors (that can be avoided by using cold plates or serving food cool or at room temperature)

If a child with cancer maintains adequate nutrition, then he or she may be more likely to:

Better tolerate chemotherapy or radiation and with fewer side effects

Heal and recover faster

Grow and develop

Maximize quality of life

Have more energy and strength

Nutritional side effects of cancer treatment and suggestions

Helpful hints

Use creative meal presentations. Instead of pancakes and sausage, make a butterfly. Use the sausage link for the butterfly body, cut the pancake in half, and place the rounded edges against the link.

As each child's individual medical profile and diagnosis is different, so is his or her reaction to treatment. Side effects may be severe, mild, or absent. Be sure to discuss with your child's cancer care team possible side effects of treatment before the treatment begins.

Decreased appetite:

Try smaller, more frequent meals and snacks.

Try changing the time, place, and surroundings of meals.

Let your child help with shopping and preparing meals.

Offer high-calorie, high-protein meals and snacks.

Avoid forcing your child to eat. This may make your child's appetite worse.

Make mealtime a happy time.

Have mini-meals or snacks ready so that a fleeting appetite can be addressed immediately.

Mouth sores:

Use soft foods that are easy to chew.

Avoid foods that may cause irritation to the mouth, including the following:

Serve foods cold or at room temperature. Hot foods may irritate the mouth and throat.

Use a blender to make foods softer and easier to chew.

Add sauces or gravies to food to make them easier to swallow.

Taste alterations:Sweet foods are often the first to lose their appeal. Many commercial supplements are especially sweet, so your child may not want them. Continue to try alternatives until you find something your child will accept:

Offer salty or seasoned foods.

Use flavorful seasonings on foods.

Marinate meats in fruit juice, teriyaki sauce, or Italian dressing.

Try serving foods at different temperatures.

Give your child plastic utensils if he or she complains of a metallic taste in the mouth.

Offer foods that look and smell good.

Keep your child's mouth clean by rinsing and brushing.

Dry mouth:

Try sweet or sour foods, and drinks such as lemonade.

Offer hard candy, a frozen treat, or chewing gum.

Offer softer foods that may be easier to swallow.

Keep your child's lips moist with lip balm.

Offer small, frequent sips of water.

Offer foods that have more liquid in them.

Chewing gum can stimulate gastric secretions and help to increase appetite, but it can also cause physical fatigue in a child with cancer and therefore be a possible choking risk.

Avoid foods that are fried, greasy, very sweet, spicy, hot, or strong-flavored.

Offer small, frequent meals.

Offer sips of water, juices, sports drinks, or other beverages throughout the day.

Diarrhea:Try to avoid high-fiber foods, including the following:

Nuts and seeds

Whole grains

Dried beans and peas

Raw fruits and vegetables

Try to limit greasy, fatty, or fried foods. Offer small, frequent meals and liquids throughout the day. If lactose intolerance is a problem, limit milk and milk products.

Constipation:Ask the doctor or nurse if you should give your child high-fiber foods, including the following:

Whole-grain breads and cereals

Raw fruits and vegetables

Raisins and prunes

Have your child drink plenty of fluids; hot drinks are sometimes helpful. Keep the skin on vegetables when cooking them. Add bran or wheat germ to foods such as casseroles, cereals, or homemade breads.

Tooth decay:

Use a soft toothbrush and take your child to the dentist regularly.

Encourage rinsing the mouth with warm water when gums and mouth are sore.

Encourage brushing teeth after eating meals and sweets.

Limit foods that stick to the teeth, such as caramels, taffy, gummy candy, or chewy candy bars.